As the end of February draws near, I find myself contemplating my garden for this year. Last year was a bit of a fail due to mother nature’s insistence on not providing ANY rain. It all started last February with some overrated ambition, and the desire to get my hands in the dirt. I bought what seems like thousands of seed packs, and dump trucks full of dirt, and just started planting. Yep – it was great fun. Even Sadie was in paradise 🙂
Seeds incubated in front of the fireplace, and seedlings emerged with the promise of something good. I dutifully moved all the seedlings upstairs to my huge south facing window and cared for them every day. When it was time, I eagerly took them outside for a few hours a day and brought them back in at night. Until I didn’t. Until the heat on the deck was so hot, they dried out in a couple of hours. Until I just couldn’t stay awake to bring them all in one more time.
Now we are not talking about 1 or 2 trays of seedlings, we are talking about dozens. DOZENS! What was I thinking? Isn’t that what Eisings is for? They make the cute little seedlings and then I can just go and buy the plants.
At any rate, I saved what I could, and protected them with all my might. Until I didn’t. I put them outside in the warm heat of spring, in the shade of the tree, just like I was supposed to. Then I went out for the evening. That night, Mother Nature’s wrath was nothing short of a hurricane. I arrived home only to run about in the stormy thunder and lightening (under that shade tree) gathering whatever seedlings I could try to save. She was so destructive, she even blew a little baby bird right out of its nest to land in the midst of my seedling scatter.
So I went to Eisings. Like I should have done in the first place. And bought some plants. Now I sit here contemplating what lies ahead for me in seed planting world, and if I will try it again. Maybe I will only plant the seed of herbs I cannot purchase at a nursery. Or not.
Either way, I will plant and grow as many herbs and flowers as I can find. For my herbal infused oils, and the many concoctions I intend to make. Rosemary (all the kinds), all varieties of peppermint, sage, lemon balm, basil, plantain, calendula, echinacea, lavender, dandylion, chamomile – the list is endless. I am excited thinking about it. The warmth of the sun on my back, the dirt caked in my fingernails, the bees and butterflies waking up. And the hummingbirds I am still trying to get to come to my backyard paradise.